Hi everyone! I thought I’d put a little interlude in here. I know that part two of my 2007 favorites is due, but I thought I’d take some time out to talk a little about a new development in my life, and one that has the potential to include many other people, depending on whether or not they feel led to participate.
A couple weeks ago, I got a call to come in and interview at Compassion International for a job. It was not unexpected, but it was a surprise, as it had been some time since I’d submitted an application, and I’d all but given up on hearing back from them. However, like any good, entrepreneurial individual, I went in and interviewed with Compassion. It was a great start, and two weeks down the road, I find myself working for an amazing company and ministry.
In many ways, I’m your typical marketing temp. I take calls, I work up contacts and try to make deals. I help facilitate already existing business relationships; I certainly have a product to sell. But unlike working for a cell phone company, an insurance agency, or any number of businesses that deal with inanimate objects meant to bring consumer pleasure, the product I am promoting is a living, breathing human being, and the stakes are far higher than customer satisfaction. When I try to convince you of what I am promoting, it is because I believe it is too high a price to pay to ignore, if people don’t buy it.
In many of the countries that host the sponsor children of Compassion, major populations live under the poverty level. Many of the countries are deeply affected by HIV, and other transmittable diseases that are widespread and in epidemic levels. In South America, many large populations are crammed into small spaces, with developing governments unable to quell urban violence, or support the millions of impoverished living in city slums. In Africa, lack of hygene education, as well as basic necessities like clean running water, are destroying communities to the point that disease has become epidemic. To add to the problem, many countries such as Sudan and Kenya are dealing with local conflict, and in certain regions, genocide, uncontrolled by the government. There are some reports that have alleged over 30,000 child deaths a day in Africa alone, from starvation and dehydration, as well as widespread disease.
These statistics are grave, but I’m not reporting them here to make people feel a tinge of guilt. It’s more that having spent time within the ministry, and being in the environment where I hear about these nameless children, I have begun to feel a conviction on my heart, a pulling to play a part in changing the cycle of grief and struggle for these countries, and the children involved. I want to give the nameless a name.
And that is what Compassion does. It’s mission is simple (taken from the compassion site):
Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.
The need is great, and no single ministry or organization can fix the problem. But collectively, many people will change the direction of these countries. For Compassion International, their heart is for the children, and the difference an investment will make in the lives of the next generation in each collective country. The children involved will be the driving force of the future of each of these countries, and we all have the opportunity to invest toward change and hope.
Logistically, Compassion brings hope to the lives of these children through personal sponsorship of individuals willing to invest $32 a month into the life of a child. But because Compassion is a Christian ministry, it also believes that change is dependent on more than just financial support, and it asks for, and gives the opportunity for, personal and spiritual change in the life of the sponsored child as well. A sponsor will have the opportunity to correspond with their sponsor child, and to encourage them and pray for them. Many sponsors will watch their sponsor child grow up from a young kid to a young adult, and see the change first-hand. Some sponsors will actually visit their sponsor child in the country of origin. Many have found it to be a life-changing experience to see first-hand the challenges that their child faces, as well as the opportunities for growth that they have opened up for their sponsor child through their commitment.
Compassion is one of the best-rated charities in the United States, and takes financial stewardship extremely seriously. Predominately, financial income goes straight to the field to support the mission locations and individual children, with only a small percentage going to administration (with many charities, the opposite is true). All the financial information is available to view here.
Compassion is a sincere and dedicated Christian ministry that I find myself honored and privileged to be a part of for this time. If any of this has sparked your interest, please don’t hesitate to leave comments and questions; you can also visit the Compassion International website here.
As a side note, the project I am working towards is called Compassion Sunday. It is an event where hundreds of churches all over the nation will give a special focus to Compassion’s work, and to the issues of poverty, disease and conflict in developing nations around the world. Compassion relies on the help of regular church members to promote child sponsorship in their churches, at any level. If you’re interested, please contact me, and I’ll get you all the appropriate information.
Thanks for bearing with me and indulging me in my soapbox. I assure you, it’s a soapbox that you won’t regret giving a moment to.
Anyway, best to all of you, and happy Martin Luther King Jr. day, a man also dedicated to freeing people from the challenges facing his generation. Let’s do the same in the spirit with which he changed the world.
7 Comments
January 21, 2008 at 8:53 am
Wow. A cause which is doubtlessly par-excellence, and commendable. I really must praise you for doing what you are doing, because this kind of work is very close to my heart as well.
But having said that, I am not going to hide (much less debate – I just wish to put my mind clearly here) the fact that I personally do not fully well agree with the method. At least in part. And I think you know what I am referring to. I do not want to make it explicit in the public domain, and much less argue about it, but I think you can take the hint.
But nonetheless, I wish you all the best in your endeavour!
January 21, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Joel, this is so exciting! Compassion International is a phenomenal ministry and I know that the Lord will do amazing things through you working for them. When I was a young girl, my father surprised me with what turned into a four year correspondence with a little girl named Adriana. Its years later and I’ve not forgotten her, and still have her precious hand-written letters in my desk. But I have such a respect for Compassion’s ministry and am delighted to hear you’ll be getting to know them better.
May the Holy Spirit be very close to you as you do his work.
January 21, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Thanks for your kind words, Sumedh, they’re always appreciated. Good to see you back commenting on my blog!
I don’t understand your disagreement with the “method” of Compassion, however. As far as a method, the only method I’ve seen is people so convicted and full of love for the world that they’re willing to give their lives to make a change. It’s love spurring on social justice. I understand from our past discussions how you could disagree about the religious elements of the organization, but the method is basically a practical, tangible compassion driven by a fundamental value for human life and dignity. I’d think that would be a method with which nearly everyone could agree
Jo, thanks so much for the comment! That’s amazing to hear about your involvement with Compassion, and how you were able to influence Adriana. I’ve sponsored for a couple of years too, and it’s a life-changing experience. The letters I’ve received from my sponsor child are so full of grace, it always surprises me how he ministers to me, and how he is praying for me as well. I’m hoping to visit him at some point in the future.
January 21, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I have no disagreement as to this method per se. Probably “method” was not the right word for me to use anyway.
But yes, you got what I would disagree with anyway. And I do not wish to further elaborate on that, partly because it’s 2 AM at night and I might not remain politically correct in choosing my words.
But then again, it is a matter which can be ignored, because we both know very well that we would end up agreeing upon not agreeing on it!
Cheers!
January 25, 2008 at 5:54 am
Hello Joel,
I was on the committee of an Indian children’s safe house in Calcutta for over a year up until last year. ..I think what Compassion does is absolutely wonderful, unfortunately a lot of the Christian charities in Calcutta wont take children in, unless they convert to Christianity, and our program was specifically based on letting the children keep their own religion.
Tragically one of our kids was murdered last year, when he was expelled from a Christian organization that we helped him get into, for not converting, and by the time we had found him, it was too late.
This grieved us greatly, as he was a street child who was so wild when we first received him, he was like an animal, and we had helped “civilize him ” enough for other charities to take him on..which is the purpose of our charity.
I’m not saying your organization does this, but a lot of the Christan charities do, and it is a shame they do this, as they are the ones with the most funding, and ability to help.
The charity I was involved in can be checked out here http://www.shantiveer.org/index.htm
Congratulations on your job..and people like you and your organization really DO make a difference.
January 25, 2008 at 6:47 am
Hi Enigma! Thanks for your kind comment! It’s very heartening to hear about other people in the same field. I looked at the charity you mentioned, it looks like a great organization. It must be quite a challenging mission!
I understand very much what you said about the problems with different missions and charities. It’s absolutely awful to hear about a “Christian” charity treating someone like that, it is antithetical to the very nature of Christianity (though I speak in regard to my own consideration of the religion, as a Christian!). Before I came to Compassion, I was simply a sponsor of a child in need, and in being so, all I ever saw was the inspiring side of helping out a kid. However, being inside Compassion, I’ve started to see how sobering the work can be.
I went to a prayer meeting yesterday, and some of the stories about the children in the missions broke my heart. Even though there is good work being done, there are limitations on the field. I think the fact of the matter is that most of the countries that you find these charities are overrun with governmental corruption, and impoverished populations, which can only lead to civil unrest. There are times when it doesn’t matter how good the intention, there will be bad apples in the system.
However, I don’t know if a Christian organization is any more susceptible to cold-heartedness than any other organization. Sometimes, there are just corrupt people, and it doesn’t matter what title they use. I think actually, that being accountable to a larger organization helps keep things in check, and that’s why I’m overarchingly satisfied with my job.
In regard to whether or not a kid should keep their religion, I think it will always differ from place to place; I don’t think that training a kid in Christian practice is inherently wrong, insofar as it doesn’t put a child’s life in jeopardy. Genuine Christian organizations are acting out of a religious construct that starts with love and compassion for people, and consequentially, that’s what will be taught in real Christian missions. If a Christian mission truly expells a child because of a lack of conversion, I’d question their authenticity of faith. Unfortunately, anything can be done in the “name” of Christianity. People can do whatever feels good to them, and pass off the consequences on whatever “name” they are acting on.
Charities are such an easy target for opportunists, and when a corrupt person gains control, the people on the receiving end of the charity will suffer. I’m afraid that such a situation won’t become extinct until countries gain control of corruption and deceit, and if a country is at that point, it’s clearly developing beyond the need of comprehensive charities. Corruption is a side-effect that almost always comes along with the antidote.
Well, now I’m just being a windbag, but it’s my blog, so I can have my cake and eat it too, I suppose!
Anyway, thanks for the comment! Glad you dropped by.
January 28, 2008 at 6:11 am
Hey Joel! I think its great that you are working with Compassion. Regardless of ethics etc… already discussed in the comments, you are DOING something to help. And that right there is an admirable thing. I hope you are blessed in your work there and that it will open your eyes to how God feels about our world.